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Goodbye 2020: Challenging Is An Understatement

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Goodbye 2020: Challenging Is An Understatement

By Selwyn Richards
Contributing Columnist

Chef Selwyn Richards -- largerThe historical year of 2020 is winding down on us, and saying that it has been challenging is an understatement.

Losing NBA superstar, Kobe Bryant, was heartbreaking at the start of the year, yet we had no idea what was waiting for us on the journey through 2020.

Who could have imagined that most of the planet would be on some kind of lockdown; no gatherings, no restaurants, working from home has become a normal routine and the only meetings we can have are on Zoom.

When we are able to exhale, we will check on our family and friends, only to realize how many have passed from COVID-19; no funeral receptions, no saying goodbye, and hugging and kissing has been replaced with elbow bumps and pretend hugs.

We can’t see each other’s smile anymore, so we have to resort to smiling with our eyes. Black Lives Matter protests, the outcry of systemic racism and, who can forget the drama that is the American Presidential election?

A vaccine has arrived, yet how many of us will take it, due to all the conspiracy theories out there?

For our businesses to survive and be sustainable, people need to gather, celebrate and nurture each other. We all need to continue to do our part to help in the restoration of what we had considered to be normal behaviour.

I am extremely grateful and excited for the future. A lot of things, I thought I needed, are of no consequence — less has become more – and learning to like and spend time with myself is refreshing. Drowning out the noise has allowed me to listen a bit more clearly to God and the plans He/She has for my future.

In a few days, we will celebrate Christmas holidays, and a few more days, we’ll welcome 2021. We have also learned not to take anything for granted, but to embrace life, living it one day at a time, being a little kinder to each other.

Change is the only constant. Let’s resolve to embrace change, be respectful of each other and our surroundings. The struggles we have faced, and continue to face going forward, will only make us stronger.

I pray that God will shelter you in Its arms, grant you Its grace, mercy, peace and favours. May your Christmas be happy and your New Year be merry and bright. Stay safe! Stay strong!

Selwyn Richards is an award-winning master chef. He is also the President and Executive Chef at The Art of Catering Inc. and is the author of “The Art of Cooking: Soul of The Caribbean”. Chef Selwyn can be reached at: selwyn@theartofcatering.com or by phone — (905) 619-1059.

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